Both front wheel drive shaft anti-click washers on my 2023 Bolt EV fractured at 18,269 miles. The failure caused a repeatable click/clunk from the front of the vehicle on torque application — accelerating from a full stop, from a slow roll under 5 mph, or accelerating out of a coast at about 20 mph. A Chevrolet dealer confirmed both anti-click washers were cracked (Repair Order 652900). The repair required removing both front half-shafts, replacing the washers (GM P/N 42754282) and drive shaft nuts (GM P/N 13208079), and reinstalling the axles. The noise was eliminated. This is a safety issue because GM has documented in writing that this exact failure can damage the ABS wheel speed sensor, which sits directly in-line with the washer on the outboard joint of the half shaft. GM TSB 22-NA-089 (Bolt EV) and TSB 19-NA-103 (Volt) both state the fractured washer causes "possible collateral damage to the ABS wheel speed sensor," that ABS, Traction Control, and StabiliTrak lamps may illuminate intermittently, and that those systems "may be deactivated/shut off for that ignition cycle," setting DTCs P215B and C0035-C0051. Loss of anti-lock braking and stability control is a direct safety hazard. My core concern is scope. GM acknowledged this defect in 2019 (Volt, MY2016-2019) and 2022 (Bolt EV, MY2017-2019), but capped the bulletins at model years that exclude my vehicle. My 2023 Bolt EV suffered the identical failure of the identical part, fixed by GM's identical specified procedure and part numbers. Other owners report the same failure on 2020, 2022, and 2023 Bolts. I was charged $737.34 as customer-pay. The dealer submitted a warranty claim and GM rejected it, stating a BEV has no applicable powertrain coverage for this component. I request the federal safety agency review whether this defect extends to later model year Bolt EV/EUV vehicles and whether a recall is warranted.
Chevrolet Bolt EV harsh shifting problems
22 of the 992 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Bolt EV describe harsh or hard shifting, most of them for the 2017 model year.
- owner complaints
- 22
- worst model year
- 2017
By model year
Often reported together
Trouble codes mentioned
U1A25 1U197A 1U164E 1U164B 1U160A 1U1607 1U11FD 1U1151 1U1150 1U1126 1
What owners say
COMPONENT: Electric power steering (EPS) steering gear / rack and pinion assembly. WHAT HAPPENED: The steering gear binds internally. After a turn the wheel does not return to center and must be forced back to straight; steering feel is stiff and clunky. On at least one occasion the wheel felt stuck in place partway through a turn and I had to fight it to finish the maneuver. I nearly lost control of the vehicle. Exact date, location and speed of that incident: UNKNOWN. The condition is chronic and has worsened over time. I own two Bolt EVs (2017's); both have this defect and I am filing a separate complaint for each. Mileage on this vehicle: approx 96,000 but it's been bad since 80,000 (at the very least). SAFETY RISK: Binding steering requires manual correction after every turn, increasing risk of overcorrection, unintended lane departure and delayed emergency response. Worst at intersections, on/off ramps and parking lots. The driver cannot anticipate when the wheel will stick. WARNING LAMPS / PRIOR SYMPTOMS: [No warning lamps, messages or codes appeared] Earliest symptom: [stiff or notchy steering]. First noticed [right away when I bought the car used]. CONFIRMED BY DEALER OR SHOP: [not yet presented] INSPECTED BY MANUFACTURER, POLICE OR INSURANCE: No. AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION: Yes — vehicle and original steering gear assembly. This failure is widely reported across Bolt EV and EUV model years. GM service information contains a diagnostic procedure for poor return of the steering wheel, indicating the manufacturer is aware of it. No safety recall has been issued, and dealer repair runs $2,500-$3,500 because the subframe must be lowered to reach the rack. Videos of the repair are available online, which also include plenty of discussion about the symptoms and dangers: [XXX] and [XXX] I request that the federal safety agency open an investigation into the Bolt EV/EUV steering gear as this should 100% be a priority safety recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2027 CHEVROLET BOLT – SUDDEN FORWARD LURCH / PROPULSION EVENT WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION FAULT CODES While driving my new 2027 Chevrolet Bolt, I was stopped at a traffic light. When the light changed, I applied the accelerator gently to move forward. The vehicle suddenly produced a loud bang or clunk and lurched sharply forward. All of the yellow instrument panel lights flashed on for a few seconds. The acceleration was abrupt and substantially different from my accelerator input. Surrounding drivers were alarmed. The event was sufficiently forceful and unexpected that I considered it a safety issue involving propulsion control. I was not accelerating aggressively; this was a gentle acceleration, in traffic, making a left turn onto a freeway ramp. I subsequently brought the vehicle to the Chevrolet dealer for diagnosis. The dealer retrieved the following diagnostic trouble codes: U164B; U164E (5 times); U0485; U11FD; P3013; U1A25; U160A (3 times)l U197A (3 times); U0159; U1126 (2 times); U1150; B1A25; U1607; U1151 Several of the retrieved codes are U-series communication/data-network codes. The vehicle has now been at the dealership for three days; so far the dealer has not provided an explanation for the sudden lurch or identified the underlying cause of the diagnostic codes. Previously the car was at the dealership for 15 days. I am concerned that an intermittent electronic, communication-network, propulsion-control, power-supply, software, or related fault could cause another unexpected propulsion event. The vehicle has also experienced charging/range abnormalities, and code P3013 was among the codes retrieved by the dealer. I do not know whether those issues are related to the lurch event, and I am not asserting that they are. I am reporting them because they may be relevant to the federal safety agency’s evaluation of the vehicle’s electrical and control systems. I am requesting that this incident be recorded as a potential safety defect
Steering rack failure, does not return to center most of the time. Every once in a while it will. Loud clunking in steering, started right around 36k mile warranty expiration, but I didnt know what it was so did not report it right away.
When driving at parking lot speeds, I hear a clunk sound and I feel some vibration in the steering column. This is not observed at higher speeds. Also, the steering intermittently becomes stiff and at other times is loose.
Steering clunks during low speed maneuvers, shimmy started while rounding a curve at highway speed on uneven pavement. Local garage has identified it as a broken steering gear. Car has only 36000 miles.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The steering gear in this vehicle began to fail around 40K miles. It clunks at low speed, doesn't roll out of turns, and recently has begun to oscillate during straight driving. I will keep the old part for inspection once replaced. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The cars steering does not return to center during a turn. Now, the steering is shaking violently during driving. It will likely seize if left unfixed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. I also have video. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? This is a well documented issue with Chevy steering. I will include an AI overview screenshot.
The steering gear (rack and pinion) assembly exhibits clunking when turning the steering wheel at low speeds, and does not return to center at higher speed (stays in turned position when let go). This is available for inspection upon request. Our safety is put at risk because the steering feels strange and does not behave as with other cars, requiring force to return the wheel to center in a turn at speed. This problem has been confirmed by a qualified service center and they attempted to fix it by replacing the intermediate steering column, but it did not resolve the issue. There were no warning messages.
The steering on my car is sticking and failing. When I make a turn, the steering wheel does not go back to the center on its own. I have to physically pull it back, otherwise the car will keep turning. When driving straight, the steering wheel gets "stuck." I have to use extra force to make small adjustments, which makes the car jerk. The steering also makes clunking noises. This is extremely dangerous because it makes the car very hard to control, and I could easily drift into another lane, overcorrect, or crash.
Clicking/Clunking under driver's feet
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Chevrolet Bolt EV harsh shifting
Which Chevrolet Bolt EV years have harsh or hard shifting problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2017 (6 complaints), 2023 (6 complaints) and 2018 (3 complaints).
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